Here is a summary of the scheduled meeting of the Community Development Directorate - Executive Members and Corporate Director Meetings. The meeting is scheduled to discuss changes to planning application processes and to consult tenants on proposed amendments to the North Yorkshire Council Tenancy Agreement. The meeting will be available to view via a link.

Planning Application Process Changes

Councillor Mark Crane, Executive Member for Open to Business, is scheduled to discuss proposed changes to planning application and appeals processes. These changes are being proposed to support the implementation of the One Uniform case management system, which aims to standardise planning application processing across the council area. The report pack states that the One Uniform system is being rolled out in phases, with Harrogate already using the new system, and Scarborough and Craven scheduled to migrate before the end of the year.

A key change under consideration is the removal of direct neighbour notification in the former planning areas of Craven, Hambleton, NYCC (Minerals & Waste), Richmondshire and Ryedale, where it is currently practiced. Instead, the council would rely on site notices, online publication, and press notices to publicise planning applications. The report pack argues that this change would create efficiencies and consistency, and that it aligns with the council's Statement of Community Involvement (SCI).¹

This would be consistent with the Council's SCI which states that for certain types of applications we would use 'either a site notice or neighbour notification'.

The report pack claims that removing direct neighbour notification would save resources, including staff time, paper, and postage costs. It also suggests that direct neighbour notification does not guarantee that all interested parties will be consulted, and that other publicity methods, such as site notices, can reach a wider audience. The report pack references the experiences of Harrogate, Scarborough and Selby, where neighbour notification has already been removed, and claims that there has been no discernible reduction in community engagement as a result.

The report pack also proposes changes to how representors (those who make representations on planning applications) are notified at different stages of the process. The council is considering ceasing to send acknowledgement of comments, instead directing people to the online public access system. However, the council is considering notifying respondents, applicants and agents of the date of committee meetings and their right to speak. The council is also considering ceasing to directly notify people of planning decisions, instead relying on publication of decisions on the Public Access system, and the option for representors to track applications online.

The report pack considers alternative options, such as retaining neighbour notification in some or all locations, or not making changes to representor notification, but these options are not supported because they would not offer a consistent service to the public. The report pack states that the proposed changes would bring financial savings of £75,000, which have been included in the service's 2025/26 savings plan, but deferred to 2026/27 due to delays in the implementation of the One Uniform system. The report pack includes initial equality and climate change impact assessments in appendices A and B respectively.

NYC Tenancy Agreement Amendments

Councillor Simon Myers, Executive Member for Culture, Arts and Housing, is scheduled to discuss and decide on whether to approve a consultation with tenants on proposed amendments to the North Yorkshire Council Tenancy Agreement.